A free drug testing service coming to Wānaka in late December will allow people to find out whether their drugs have any unexpected ingredients in them before consumption.

The service will be brought to Wānaka on December 27 by KnowYourStuffNZ, an organisation which provides drug related harm reduction services in New Zealand.

“We’ve been operating since 2016, and in that time we’ve found that when we tell people that their substance is either not what they thought it was or contains additional, unexpected substances, more than half will then actively choose not to take it,” KnowYouStuff representative Dr Brin Ryder said.

In the 2020-21 season only 69 percent of substances tested were what people thought they were - the lowest proportion to date since KnowYourStuffNZ has been running drug testing clinics. 

“If you or someone you know plans to consume drugs this coming summer, go and get them checked,” Brin said. “This will help you make informed decisions about what substances you consume.”

National Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr Michael Butchard said drug related harm reduction is made up of a set of strategies which aim to reduce the negative consequences of drug use.

The work KnowYourStuffNZ does is supported by health services, NGOs, and NZ Police, Michael said.  

“Harm reduction acknowledges that people will choose to take drugs regardless of the law,” he said. “KnowYourStuffNZ reduces harm associated with that use by providing factual, proven information to drug users about the substances they intend to take so that they can understand the risks and make safer decisions. 

“This helps reduce the risk of people needing medical care as a result of consuming a substance that wasn’t what they thought it was.” 

The Wānaka clinic will take place at the Armstrong Room at the Lake Wānaka Centre on December 27, from 12.30pm to 7.30pm.

Find more information about the KnowYourStuffNZ process here and other locations the organisation is visiting here.

PHOTO: KnowYourStuffNZ